Section #4 (Sluice Falls Section)Class IV-V
4.5 Miles
Avg Gradient 40 fpm
Sluice Falls
Sluice Falls Photo of Bob Butler by Steve Arns @ 930 cfs Gauge Information
Oswegatchie, Middle Branch
River DescriptionSection 4 of the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie is often referred to as the Sluice Falls Section. This section is pool drop with both large drops and large pools. When running Section 4 it seems as though you are either rambling down some easy moving water or staring down a large and difficult drop. The scenery in this section is very nice but it is in prime hunting areas so be aware of the hunters. This section feels very remote until the flatwater at the end. You also do not cross any roads while running this section. Section 4 can be combined with Section 3 as the put-in for section 4 is the take-out for section 3. Section 4 can be run at lower water levels than the other sections (or so I am told). With the exception of Sluice Falls all of the drops in this section are easily portaged (Sluice Falls is slightly more difficult to portage but not really that hard either). The put-in is where Bryant Bridge Road crosses the river (there is a bridge) and the take-out is on Jerden Falls Rd near Middle Branch Corners. This is a very easy shuttle (10 minutes or so) and close to the town of Harrisville (food and gas). If anyone knows of different names for these rapids (I have never heard of the names) please let me know and I will adjust them on the AW website. There are several good runs in the area including: Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie Section 4, Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie Section 3, West Branch of the Oswegatchie, South Branch of the Grass, Brown's Bridge Section of the East Branch of the Oswegatchie, and several others. StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: unknown
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W Br Oswegatchie R Nr Harisvl [ NY ] |
Current Conditions
Station Graphs |
| Level Legend: | Running | Below Minimum Recommended Flow | Above Maximum Recommended Flow | Unknown |
| State | River Name/Section | Class | Level | Rel. Level | Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY | Grass— Lampsons Falls to Russell | IV+ | 875 cfs | med | 12/2 11:30 | |
| NY | Grass, Lower S. Branch— Twin Falls | IV-V | 875 cfs | med | 12/2 11:30 | |
| NY | Grass, Middle Branch— Tracy Brook to Clare Rd. | III-IV(V) | 875 cfs | low | 12/2 11:30 | |
| NY | Oswegatchie, Middle Branch— Section #3 (Rainbow Falls) | IV-V | 875 cfs | low | 12/2 11:30 | |
| NY | Oswegatchie, Middle Branch— Section #4 (Sluice Falls Section) | IV-V | 875 cfs | med | 12/2 11:30 | |
| NY | Oswegatchie, W. Branch— Bisha Falls to Jerden Falls | V+ | 875.00 | low | 12/2 11:30 |
| AW Gauge ID: | 2039 |
| USGS Station: | 04262500 |
| HUC: | 04150302 |
| Latitude: | 44.1856 |
| Longitude: | -75.3311 |
| Class: | 6 |
User Comments |
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2007-11-10 12:18:18 (388 days ago)
River right of Tooth Ferry is a nasty recirculating eddy that has a rock just below water level that you can't see (but trust me it's there). It is tough to see where you may end up from above so I would recommend walking to the bottom and taking a peek before firing this one up. (Unless you need the money like I did!) Edit
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | Trash Can Falls | 5.0 |  |
| 0.3 | Take out the Trash | IV | |
| 0.6 | Cable Rapid | IV | |
| 1.0 | Tooth Ferry | 5.0 | |
| 1.5 | Dick Rock | IV | |
| 2.5 | Panther Falls (aka "The Juice") | 5.0 | |
| 3.3 | Sluice Falls | 5.0 | |
| 3.5 | Roshambo | IV | |
Trash Can Falls is the first major drop you come to on Section 4 and you will recognize it as the first horizon line you come to. The main line (right side of the island) has some pin potential. Scout right or from the island.
If you would like to stay out of the Trash Can you can run "Take out the Trash" which is left of the island. You will find a near vertical slide that is fairly smooth (at least @ 1200 cfs) with a bumpy runout. Scout from the island.
Named for obvious reasons. You will see cables from an old bridge above the river. Fun boof in the middle but there are several lines.
The river narrows and drops quickly into a big hole. There is a nasty recirculating eddy on river left and a wall on river right. Scout from river right. This rapid is named in honor of a friend who left part of his tooth in this rapid. The "Tooth Ferry" took the tooth but I don't think my friend found a quarter under his pillow!
A low angle slide on a rock into a hole. Work left or right around the hole.
When you see a big horizon line you know you have reached Panther Falls (aka "The Juice"). This is a big 40-45ft slide/falls drop. There is a shelf/ledge thing about 3/4 of the way down. Scout and/or carry on the left.
Video link to Panther Falls: Video!
Really cool mini-gorge like rapid. The river takes a 90 degree turn to the left and significantly narrows. The river looses some vertical fairly quickly through this rapid in the form of several drops including 2 fairly large drops. It also takes another 90 degree turn to the right and one more turn to the left. Very impressive rapid. Definitely scout and/or carry right.
This is the last rapid on the river. Run left of the island and it is fairly easy boof over a hole. The hole looks fairly harmless but if you end up in the hole it can be bad. I saw a swimmer recirculated in the hole 4 times before we could rope him out.
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